Cucchi homers, Strayer sets scoring record as Plant tops Wharton

Plant cleanup batter Jackson Cucchi (27) is greeted at the plate by Urban Ellis (19), A.J. Ford (8), and Danny Cerelli (22) after delivering a three-run homer, the key blow in an eight-run third inning. Cucchi was 2-for-3 with four RBI in the Panthers 6A-Region 3 semifinal win in Game 1.

By Chuck Frye, Senior Staff Writer

TAMPA – Make no mistake, Wharton has plenty of fight in it under first-year head coach Anthony Markle. Just ask Plant after Wednesday’s Class 6A-Region 3 semifinal opener.

But when the host Panthers brought absolute thunder in a game-defining third inning, it almost would have taken an act of God for the Wildcats to turn the tide. As it was, Wharton was able to claw back close but not close enough in an eventual 11-6 decision.

Panthers base runner Jackson Cucchi can’t retreat fast enough as Wharton first baseman Alex Johnstone snags Drew Cobb’s throw to complete a second-inning double play.

After 2 1/3 innings that yielded just three base runners combined, a pitcher’s duel between Plant starter Nick Townley and Wildcats’ counterpart Daniel Duno appeared in the cards, especially when Duno set down the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the third. Little did anyone know what No. 9 batter Desan DeCamp’s double up the left-centerfield gap would unleash.

Ranging deep into right-centerfield, Plant senior Cash Strayer made a superb running grab of Antonio Fawcett’s first-inning line drive.

Avoiding deep counts like the plague, Cash Strayer (two hits on the night) followed with a single, drawing a throw that allowed DeCamp to score. Danny Cerelli doubled down the rightfield line with a passed ball delivering Strayer. Jordan Olivia was hit by a pitch, then Jackson Cucchi hit a bomb over the left-centerfield fence to clear the bases.

“That inning completely changed the game,” said Cucchi, who also had a single and a walk. “We had a plan and we executed. We knew we were going to see fastball/curveball, we could see the ball coming out of (the pitcher’s) hand and we just had to pick one.”

 

The carnage didn’t stop there as Urban Ellis, Wyatt Patterson, Bo Allen (RBI), and Brody Vermette (RBI) added consecutive singles while a Wildcats’ error plated the eighth and final run in an inning where the Panthers sent 10 batters to the plate after there were two outs.

“The offense is swinging the bats well, and you get innings and games like this where hitting is contagious,” Plant head coach Dennis Braun said. “The guys did a good job getting into counts where pitches had to be elevated, and we made changes to hit the ball harder.”

Wharton (23-6) could have packed it in and prepared for Game 2 on Thursday, but instead battled back into contention.

Wharton catcher Chase Anello had a home run and single in its region semifinal opener, driving in four of the Wildcats’ six runs.

Junior cleanup batter Chase Anello pounded a fourth-inning homer to rightfield that also scored Antonio Fawcett (walk) while his fifth-inning, two-out base hit brought home Drew Cobb (single to go with an earlier double) and Fawcett (double).

Plant junior Urban Ellis (right) taps helmets with Wyatt Patterson (4) after his fifth-inning solo homer.

After Ellis briefly stemmed the tide with a solo shot for Plant (23-6) to lead off the fifth, Wharton pinch hitter Chase Andress blasted a sixth-inning round-tripper, scoring Jeremiah Brown (fielder’s choice) and cutting the Panthers’ lead to 9-6.

“In the playoffs, anyone is going to play a good game,” Cucchi said. “We’re always going to get everyone’s best.”
“Hitting can be contagious for both sides,” Braun said.

Wharton starter Daniel Duno gets a hug from his replacement, Luke Sauer (22), during a fifth-inning pitching change.

But that would be all for the visitors, while Plant had a record-breaking sixth inning in store.

With Strayer (single), Cerelli (walk), and Olivia (bunt base hit) loading the sacks, Cucchi drew a free pass to pick up his fourth RBI of the night. When Strayer crossed the plate – the 38th time he has done so this season, he broke the school’s single season run-scoring record.

“Mike Lashbrook set the record back in 2008,” Braun said. “That was during the Preston Tucker era when a lot of records were set. It’s been a while since we broke one.”

Cash Strayer (26) is welcomed home by Urban Ellis after scoring a record-breaking sixth-inning run, setting a new standard with his 38^th run scored this season.

Ellis followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to cap Plant’s scoring.

“It was important to win the first game,” Braun concluded. “We knew we wouldn’t have Townley (who battled through five-plus innings on the hill) after tonight, but we’ll have everyone else available to pitch (Thursday including sophomore reliever Rhett Dixson, who worked the final two frames).”

Senior Luke Sauer allowed two runs in two innings of relief for the Wildcats.

And after a slugfest that ended up in the Panthers’ corner, Cucchi was succinct in how he would like Game 2 to go.

“I think we’ve got to come out and finish the job.”

⚾ 6A-Region 3 ⚾